The UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, faced backlash from Israel and the Chief Rabbi over its decision to suspend certain arms licenses. Concerns were raised regarding the use of British components in Gaza potentially violating international humanitarian law.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the suspension of around 30 export licenses to Israel, covering components for various military systems. He emphasized the risk of these arms being used in breaches of international humanitarian law. The duration of the suspension was not specified, with ongoing reviews by ministers.
The decision, made within the Labour government’s two-month tenure, drew mixed reactions. Supporters of Israel criticized the move, seeing it as a withdrawal of support from a key ally. Critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza, however, felt that suspending only a fraction of licenses was inadequate.